Page 65 of Hers to Claim

Cisco wrapped an arm around Rio and drew him close, kissing the side of his head. “I love you and I’ll do whatever it takes to get him free.”

Rio purred contentedly.

Cisco turned his gaze her way while still hugging Rio. “How about you, mi tesoro, are you good?”

Mari nodded. “I’m not sure how quick I’ll be able to get through the wards now that he knows how I got through the last time, but I’ll make it work.” She could probably brute force it if she had to, but that was a last resort, and one she didn’t want to have to rely on.

An hour later they were gathering to move out again. She tried to stifle a yawn but failed and had to smother it into her elbow. The guards didn’t seem as tired as Mari felt, but she chalked that up to physiology. She was the only witch among them, and they were all more physically resilient species.

She piled into the backseat of the SUV driven by Kima between Dante and Rio. Nara hopped up into the passenger seat. Compared to the last time, the ride was eerily quiet.

Dante had been holding her hand or touching her somehow since she had healed him. She turned to snuggle into his shoulder. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” He smiled at her. “I just never thought this would be my life, you know? I’m not really a ‘crash my car into a barricade and get into a gunfight’ guy.”

“For what it’s worth, you’re adapting to it pretty well,” Rio said.

“Thanks. And thanks for getting me out of there earlier.”

Rio shrugged. “Mari would have been upset if I let you get shot too many more times.”

Mari slapped his knee, earning her a chuckle.

“In all seriousness,” Rio continued, “you stuck your neck out for her when the date went pear-shaped. You didn’t have to do that and I appreciate it.”

Dante shook his head. “I would argue that I had to do it or else I would never be able to look myself in the mirror again.”

She squeezed Dante’s hand. “You don’t have to prove anything to me. I love you the way you are.”

He did a double take, as if to assure himself that he’d heard what she said correctly. Dante lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. “I’m not brave or tough, but I am loyal.” He swallowed. “And I’m ridiculously in love with you.”

She pulled his face to her and kissed him, soft and sweet.

Nara sighed from the front seat and even Kima sniffled slightly, though neither of them said anything to disrupt the moment.

Rio put his arm over her and patted Dante’s shoulder. “You’re plenty brave. Anyone who says otherwise will meet my claws.”

A while later they pulled to the side of the street in an industrial area. Kima turned toward them. “We’re about a block away from our entry point. When we get into position, Nara will fly to the others and let them know.”

Nara nodded. “It’ll take me about five minutes to work my way around.”

Kima leveled a look Mari’s way. “That’s how long you’ll have to make a hole before they teleport inside and trigger the alarms. Think you can do it?”

Mari reached out with her senses, but couldn’t pick up any glimmer of magic nearby. “I can’t feel them from here, but I might have a better idea once we get closer.”

Kima glanced at her phone. “Hal went in fifteen minutes ago. We ready?”

They all nodded. Kima gestured to Rio and Nara to spread them around Dante and Mari in a protective detail. They moved down the block in silence, the guards keeping a wary eye on everything they passed. The street was dim, with shadows encroaching on all sides.

Nerves crept into Mari’s belly as they drew closer to the edge of the property. She still couldn’t feel the wards at all. Was itpossible there weren’t any? Maybe the shadow witch hadn’t had time to set them up?

Full-on panic set in by the time they reached the point where she was sure she was only a few feet away from where the wards should be.

Rio seemed to sense that there was something wrong and moved closer, taking her hand in his. “What’s going on?” he asked in a whisper.

She took a breath to try to calm herself. “I can’t feel anything.”

“Didn’t he do something to hide them last time?”

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